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I didn’t let my face so much as twitch. It was precisely what I expected. There was no shock. Only fury. I stared at her and waited. Not responding. Not protesting, because I knew that was what would irritate her the most.
“Truly, Vane, what will you do? You have no power. You’re helpless. I remember you helpless.” Her voice lowered to barely above a breathless whisper, as if she anticipated great things. “Though, last time, your weeping grew tiresome, I’ve always preferred you that way.”
“You’ve always preferred everyone that way,” I said softly.
Her smile widened. “I do.” Then she looked down at Grace and tsked. “Poor little soul. So overwhelmed. You know, I think she may actually love you? At least, she is convinced that she does.”
I smirked back. “She’s not nearly as weak or pitiful as you think.”
She huffed, and gave me a knowing glance, but didn’t argue.
“The Dominus mark, Mother.”
“What of it?”
“Return it. Now. Or I’ll take it. I don’t need the power to kill you.”
She flapped a hand as if the threat were a gnat buzzing around her hair. “I can’t give the Dominus to a man with no power.”
“My power is far greater than yours,” I reminded her.
“It could be, I’ll admit. But now? If I gave you the mark while you held nothing, it would only weaken all of us.”
“I will not weaken anyone.”
“But… you already did!” she said brightly, as if explaining something to a child. “You gave me control over your power, and now you hold none.”
“I am shackled, I am not—”
“Vane, please. Think, son. I’ve always told you that true power comes in strength, cunning, and intellect. Our magik is only a reflection of ourselves. The strongest man can be overwhelmed when you convince him his power is lost—or that you exceed it,” she said, tapping her temple. “Perhaps you didn’t believe me before? But I have just proven it to you.” She extended her hands to the empty clearing around us. “We stood here, in a circle of power, and both of you voluntarily gave me your power. Now one of you is dead, and the other helpless. While I am not reduced in the slightest.”
I smiled. “I am many things, Mother, but defenseless is not one of them.”
Her smile grew an edge. “Prove it. To all of us.”
Before I could respond, she began to back away. I narrowed my eyes, considering whether she fled—in which case I should pursue her—or tried to tempt me into a trap. But just as I stepped after her, she made a quick gesture and the veil lifted.
I froze as the clearing shifted.
The glamor I hadn’t been able to sense—because I’d held no power—was gone.
Robed figures stood in a circle, watching with hungry eyes. Behind them, the multitude of witnesses crowded each other. And the king stood at the forefront, watching me with the eyes of a wolf eyeing a large stag he measured for prey. Next to him stood Cali, chin high and eyes tight, nostrils flaring as she breathed. Fear in her eyes, because his hand was clamped at the back of her neck, possessively.
But the part that left me breathless and kept me still as my mother put more and more space between us, was that behind them all stood two dragons. Two of those pitiful, mindless creatures that made my dragon weep, each with a man dressed in leathers standing at its side. I shook my head.
Mother thought I shook my head in disbelief that she’d fooled me. She smirked.
“The Cruors gather to see who will take the Dominus mark. As you know, they have little patience for any claim that isn’t backed by strength. So, it would appear that the challenge isn’t quite over, after all. Wouldn’t you say, son?” Mother turned back to me. “Still want to claim you aren’t helpless?”
Perfect Love
~ VOSKI ~
I held Mother’s gaze and didn’t flinch, measuring the gathering, looking for exits, praying Kham was close enough to intervene if he was needed, and evaluating my best options for moving Grace to safety.
I showed none of that to my mother.
“This is the last chance I’ll offer you to hand the mark over without a fight,” I said in a normal voice. “You took it from me in my innocence. Now, return it to my earned birthright. Give me what I’m due.” Give it to me, before I’m forced to take it from you the only way I know how.
